With the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation schedule to hold a civil aviation conclave here on Wednesday (January 22) to scale up air connectivity to and from Odisha, chief executives of the international and national airlines are expected to take part in it.
Civil Aviation Ministry Joint Secretary Usha Padhee, an Odisha-cadre IAS officer, is constantly making efforts to boost air connectivity to and from the State. Top leaders of the aviation sector are inclined to help this endeavour.
Big international players like Emirates Airlines, Etihad Airways, Air Asia International, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways Bangkok Airways, Srilakan Airlines, Bhutan Airlines, Druk Air, Regent Airways, Scoot Air, Zoom Air, Malindo Air, Bangladesh Airlines, Nepal Airlines, Buddha Air, Thai Lion Air, Vietnam Airlines, Maldivian Airlines, US Bangla and Thai Smile have been invited for the meeting.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who will inaugurate the meeting, is expected to announce sops for the airlines for increasing air connectivity from Bhubaneswar, Jharsuguda, Jeypore and Rourkela.
Union Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola will attend the meeting, at which Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy will present the relevant perspective of the State Government.
Earlier, Chief Minister Patnaik had requested Union Minister Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri to organise such a meeting of CEOs in Bhubaneswar so that State Government would deliberate with them on scaling up of air connectivity to and from Odisha.
Experts feel the Odisha Government will have to go an extra mile to influence the airlines as other State Governments are also eager to roll out red carpets for them.
